Device for holding lambs for docking and like purposes.



D. W. MACDONALD, J. W. CORNWALL & J. C. DAVIDSON. DEVICE FOR HOLDING LAMBS FOR DOCKING AND' LIKE PURPOSES. 1,178,933.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 26. 19l5.

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D. W. MACDONALD, J. W. CORNWALL & J. C. DAVlDSON. DEVICEIFOR HOLDING LAMBS FOR 000mm; AND LIKE PURPOSES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 26, I915. 1,178,933. Patented Apr. 11,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- THE COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH 0)., WASHINGTON, 0. r

accompanying drawings wherein DUNCAN WILLIAM MACDONALD, OF MAI-IARAI-IARA, NEAR DANNEVIRKE, AND AMES WILLIAM CORNWALL AND JOHN CATIANACH DAVIDSON, OF DANNEVIRKE, NEW

ZEALAND.

DEVICE FOR HOLDING LAMBS FOR DOCKING AND LIKE PURPOSES.

Application filed November 26, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, DUNCAN WILLIAM MACDONALD, JAMEs WILLIAM CORNWALL, and JOHN OATTANAGH DAVIDSON, all subjects of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing, respectively at Mahara Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device showing the upright and lowered position of the cradle in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a front view with the gate of the cradle removed. Fig. 3 is a cross section andFig. 4 a front view of the spring for returning the cradle to its upright position. Fig. 5 is a section of a detail. Fig. 6 is a front view of the gate and accompanying parts. Fig. 7 is a view of a detail. Fig. 8 is a cross sectional plan through the cradle. Flg. 9 is a sectional elevation through the cradle. Fig. 10 is an inverted plan of the cradle. Fig. 11 is a side view of the cradle detached from its frame and attached to a p Referring to the drawings and first to Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive a cradle 1 adapted to receive the lamb is attached at 2to a member 3 pivoted on a pin 4 fixed in the upper end of a frame 5. The frame 5 is provided with supports 6 havlng stays 7 attached to the frame. The end of the member 3 depends downwardly and forms a tail 8 which carries a counter balance weight 9 thereon. The bottom end of the tail 8 is provided with a striking facelO adapted to strike and engage over the catch 11 of a treadle 12 pivoted on a pin 13 in the bottom of the frame 5. A coil spring 14 fixed to the frame 5 and coiled around the pin 13 and bearing on the treadle 12 normally retains the treadle in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1. A spring 16 (see Figs. 2, 3 and 4) having its front ends bear- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

Serial No. 63,621.

ing upon the face of the frame 5 is coiled around the spindle 4 as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and is then form-ed into a loop 17 which engages the rear side of the member 3. This spring serves the dual purpose of assisting to return the cradle to its upright position and of absorbing the shock of the cradle when the weight of the lamb causes the cradle to fall as will hereinafter be described.

The cradle 1 is shaped as shown and has two inwardly projecting portions 20 and 21 against which the shoulders of the lamb bear (see Figs. 2, 8 and 9). A gate is attached at one end to a rod 23 while the other end of the gate is attached to a lever 24. Both the rod 23 and lever 24 are fixed to a horizontal rod 26 which is pivoted in lugs 27 fixed to the front of the cradle 1. The lowerv end of the lever 24 is extended and has pivoted to its bottom end a rod 29. This rod passes through a loop 30 which is fixed upon the pin 4. The end of the rod 29 is provided with ratchet shaped teeth 31 which engage the loop 30 as shown in Fig. 5. A spring 32 (see Figs. 6 and 7) is attached at one end to the lever 24 and passes around the rod 26 and has its other end fixed to the side of the cradle 1 at 33. The gate 22 has depressions 34 and 35 to receive the hind legs of the animal. In operation, the lamb is placed in the cradle when in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1. During the placing of the lamb in the cradle the hind legs are placed in position in the depressions 34 and 35 of the gate so that the hooks of the animals hind legs bear against the gate as indicated in Fig. 9. The lamb is then pushed down until the shoulders are below the projections 20 and 21. The gate is then closed by operating the lever 24 and secured in position by the rod 29 engaging the pin 4. A handle 36 is provided upon the rod for adjusting the position of the rod 29. Immediately the operations are completed the cradle is released by means of the treadle 12 which is depressed by means of a lever 42 being depressed by the operators foot. The weight of the lamb causes the cradle to fall forward, the gate 22 supporting the animal during the downward movement of the cradle. When the cradle has reached a predetermined distance the rod 29 will come into contact with a thrust plate 37 (see Fig. 2) which disengages the teethv 31 of the rod 29 from the loop 30 thereby allowing the said rod to pass freely through the loop and the gate to open by the medium of the tension of the spring 32. The cradle and gate then assume the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and the lamb falls to the ground. The gate 22 being released at only a short distance from the ground the lamb only falls a few inches and will not, therefore, be injured. The spring 16 prevents the cradle coming to the end of its fall with a shock. Immediately the lamb is clear of the cradle the tension of the spring 16 and the weight 9 will return the cradle to its upright position ready for the next operation. It is noted that the gate 22 is hinged to the rod 23, as at 41, (Fig. 6), and a catch 42 is provided the other end of the gate to the lever 24. Instead of lowering the cradle, the lamb may be released by unfastening the gate, after which the lamb -may be removed by hand.

Fig. 11 shows how the cradle may be used independently of the frame. the cradle 1 is detached from the member 3 at 37 and a spiked rod 38 attached thereto. A hook 39 is pivoted to the back of the cradle as shown and is adapted to be fastehed to a post 4-0 while the spiked rod 38 retains the cradle in the required position.

' When employed in this manner the gate is hinged to the rod at il while a catch 43 is provided to fasten the other end of the gate to the lever, as above described. To release the lamb the catch 43 is merely unfastened and the gate swung open and the lamb removed by the operator.

What I claim is 1. For the purpose indicated, the combination of a cradle adapted to hold a lamb on its back; projections in the cradle adapted to retain the shoulders of the lamb; a gate having depressions adapted to receive the hind part of the hind legs of the lamb and prevent lateral movement thereof; and means for adjustably supporting the gate and guiding it in a direction to force the lambs hind legs back upon its body.

2. F or the purpose indicated, the combination of a cradle adapted to hold a lamb on its back; projections in the cradle adapted to retain the shoulders of the lamb; a gate having depressions adapted to receive the hind part of the hind legs of the lamb; means for adjustably supporting the gate and guiding it in a direction to force the 'lamb s hind legs back upon its body; means pivotably supporting the cradle for movement in its longitudinal plane and a yieldable means for returning the cradle to nor mal position.

3. For the purpose indicated, a chairshaped cradle adapted to hold a lamb on its In this case back in reclining position; projections on the inside of the upper part of the cradle for engaging the shoulders of the lamb and preventing upward and backward movement of the lamb; and means adapted to engage the hind part of the hooks of the lamb to force them toward the lambs body and hold them apart and against lateral movement.

4:. For the purpose indicated, a chairshaped-cradle adapted to hold a lamb on its back in reclining position; projections on the inside of the upper part of the cradle for engaging the shoulders of the lamb and preventing upward and backward movement of the lamb; a gate adapted to engage the hind part of the hooks of the lamb and force them toward the lambs body; means for pivotably supporting the cradle movable in its own longitudinal vertical plane and permitting the weight of the lamb to move the cradle to position for emptying the lamb therefrom; and means for automatically opening said gate when the cradle reaches the emptying position.

5. For the purpose indicated, a cradle adapted to retain a lamb in position, said cradle mounted upon a member pivoted in a frame, means for retaining said cradle in an upright position, a gate for retaining the lamb within said cradle, means for releasing the cradle to allow said cradle to fall by the weight of the animal, means for automatically opening the gate during the fall of the cradle, means for returning the cradle to its upright position after the lamb is free of the cradle, substantially as set forth.

6. For the purpose indicated, a cradle adapted to retain a lamb in position and mounted upon a member pivoted in a frame, and means for retaining the cradle in an upright position, a gate for retaining the lamb within said cradle, a lever pivoted to said cradle and carrying said gate, a spring interposed between said lever and the cradle to normally retain the gate closed, a rod pivoted at one end of said lever, and means upon the other end of said rod to retain the gate in a closed position when said cradle is in an upright position and to allow the gate to open when the cradle has fallen a predetermined distance, substantially as set forth.

7. For the purpose indicated, a cradle adapted to retain a lamb in position, said cradle mounted upon a member pivoted in a frame, means for retaining said cradle 1n an upright position, a gate for retaining the lamb within said cradle, means for releasing the cradle to allow said cradle to fall by the weight of the animal, means for automatically opening the gate during the fall of the cradle, means for returning the cradle to its upright position and for returning the gate to its normal position after names to this specification in the presence the lamb is free of the cradle, a spring inof two subscribing Witnesses.

tGIPOSQd between the frame and the pivoted DUNCAN WILLIAM MACDONALD. member to assist in returning the cradle to JAMES WILLIAM CORNWALL. its upright position and to absorb the shock JOHN CATTANACII DAVIDSON. of the falling cradle, substantially as set Witnesses: forth. N T. H. GORDON LLOYD,

In testimony whereof, We have signed our F. G. MOORE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0." 

